"It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it."
- Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
I first came across Jane in high school. I was mostly fascinated by the fact that such a woman could be written into existence in Victorian England.
The passage from which this quotation is taken is especially concerned with the role of women in society. It was Brontë's message to the reader that women, forced into lives of tranquil domesticity, could feel restless. That they too feel and think in the way men do, and that they too needed action outside of the confines of the box society had forced them into.
Divorced from the context of the larger passage however, I've always seen a secondary meaning associated with this quotation. It is that humans are not always satisfied with the tranquillity of their lives... the everyday contentedness, the lack of drama. Perhaps this is why there's an entire sector of the entertainment industry, dedicated to so-called Reality Television. For that matter, perhaps the entire entertainment industry, from films and television to video games and arcades are there to provide us with "action" where none might otherwise exist. It's also probably why some people will always want to gossip or create "drama" to bring excitement, instead of being content with a peaceful life. While gossipers are not likely to go away any time soon, it does seem to me that as a society, we're becoming more and more dependent on outside sources to stimulate our minds, not necessarily for growth, but simply for the sake of stimulation.
This is not to say that outside stimulation is not necessary. We know the benefits of socialization and play, whether it be sharing a meal with friends, playing a sport, or enjoying family board-game night. These are not frivolous activities. Action is necessary. The question is, how much?
To borrow more insightful words from another brilliant woman:
"I promise you this: The answers come with the silence. In the quiet. The answers for you and the secrets that are yours alone to know come in the silence."
- Ann Dowd on finding success late in life, with lessons for an over-stimulated generation.
In seeking constant stimulation and expecting instant gratification, are we losing something? The crafting of unique tales, the capacity to deal with the daily struggles of life, or the resilience required to face difficult challenges. Sometimes, we miss the experiences that are right in front of us. We need space in our own minds to be able to process these things. We need the space so we can open our eyes to what's happening around us. And sometimes, we simply need the space so that we may turn inwards, reflect, and recognize that a tranquil life is a good one.
